As I fired up my computer and checked the ESPN scoreboard late Saturday night, I felt a spontaneous, heartfelt welling of joy upon seeing: "Final, Virginia 45 BYU 40." Throughout Utedom a similar emotion was experienced again and again, among devout Mormon, non-Mormon, Jack Mormon, rich, middle class and poor alike--genuine elation to the soles of our feet at the descruction of BYU's hopes for a major bowl bid.

The impulse to wish that nothing good ever happen to BYU is as irrational as it is irrestistible. Utah has an interest in the MWC and the State of Utah as a whole prospering for obvious reasons. The better the MWC looks, the better Utah will look, and the more recognition Utah will receive,if it succeeds in the MWC. A stronger MWC makes for more entertaining and competitive games, stronger MWC showings in post season play, and, in turn, more interest in the MWC (including Utah) among the most talented recruits. Indeed, for these reasons just about every one of us who took pleasure in BYU's loss to Virginia was pleased at CSU's drubbing of Colorado.

So what gives? Why does BYU invariably appeal to our darker, tribal impulses? BYU adherents no doubt would blame the green monster, jealousy.

Not at all, I say. There is nothing about BYU's culture, mission, reputation, or image that we should want Utah to emulate. Utah is THE major research institution in a vast four state region, with some world class graduate programs including a respected medical school. Utah is reliant upon state and federal funding, and therefore fully tolerant of diversity of thought and expression. In recent years BYU has drifted so far from the main stream as to much more closely resmble Liberty University than Notre Dame. Utah represents an important counterforce to an aspect of the state of Utah that is stigmatizing to, and at BYU redolent in a concentrated, distillate form.

Most of us would not trade Utah's basketball tradition, which has unfolded on a truly national stage, for BYU's football tradition which has primarily been regional in scope (BYU's only New Year's day bowl game ever was in the decrepit Cotton Bowl, against a 17th ranked team; its faux national title was a national scandal which galvanized the movement to establish a legitimate national championship game). Lavelle Edwards is clearly a fine man, but in my book Rick Majerus is vastly more interesting, complex, engaging, and timeless.

No, we aren't jealous. Our disdain for BYU is truly heartfelt. I think that many of us Utes, Mormon, non-Mormon, Jack Mormon, rich, poor, and middle class alike, were just born with the anti-BYU gene; after all, most of us have been the way we are for as long as we can remember. What do you think?

I grew up in a Mormon home to loving parents who raised me to be a BYU fan. My dad graduated from the Y as did my grandfather. It worked in my formative years.

I remember vividly cheering for Jim McMahon in the ëMiracle Bowl" against SMU and rooting the Cougars on against the mighty 3rd place in the Big Ten, 6-4 Michigan Wolverines to win a tainted National Championship. I remember going crazy as Danny Ainge hit that running layup to send the Cougs to a last second victory over Notre Dame. I remember proudly wearing a "BYU National Championship" sweatshirt to school and having other kids ridicule me for it ( Iím from Southern California).

I attended BYU for a short while following my mission, but something just wasnít right. Conformity had never been my strong suite . Being forced to attend religion classes on a daily basis wasnít my bag. Having to live an honor code while at college seemed fairly cumbersome. The students there just seemed to be from another planet (or maybe I was). I felt like I was at a permanent "youth conference" that would never end. I got tired of the self-righteous, arrogant (and ignorant) and pompous behavior of the students. I had to get out.

I found my nirvana at the University of Utah. I could think, act, dress and be whoever I wanted to be. No rules. No religion classes. I could do whatever I wanted and no one would care. And everyone else there seemed to have the same attitude as I did (unlike at BYU).

And thus, I became the black, er, "red sheep" of the family. Hence the moniker. Actually, my favorite uncle and aunt are U grads so myself and my wife arenít the only U grads and fans at family outings.

I am proud to be a Ute alum and fan. I have even gotten my dad to cheer for the U in basketball only when they arenít playing BYU (because they suck so bad).

I actually live in Pleasant Grove (my wifeís from Orem and I honored her wishes in wanting to live close to her family), and used to go by the moniker of "Utah Valley Ute". But "Red Sheep" seemed to fit me better.

I apologize for the rambling about the history of my life, but SeattleUte wanted some opinions on why some of us on this board have a distaste for BYU.

I have always been a Ute. However, I have not always been anti-BYU. This conversion did not occur, ironically, until after I returned from an LDS mission and attended BYU for a semester. It began in the Fall of 1979 when I attended a Utah/BYU game at Cougar Stadium with my wife. I purchased the tickets from a BYU player (an NCAA violation I believe) and was therefore sitting with parents and friends of BYU students. As a result, I toned down my cheering. The abuse my wife and I received, even though the Utes lost, was embarassing. Two years later I again attended the game at Cougar stadium. This time I sat with some other U student body officers in the byu student section. By this time, my hair was a little longer than most in the section and after i was accidentally hit on the head with an umbrella by some overzealous fan and pelted with popcorn, jolly ranchers and root beer, my friends explained to the byu fans around us that they were returned missionaries, that i was investigating the church, and that they doubted I would have any interest after their actions. Needless to say, I was treated like a king the remainder of the game. I have now aged, and although i acknowledge and agree that it is in Utah's best interest for BYU to succeed, some part of me enjoys hearing the whines and excuses poor forth after a cougar loss. In a perfect world, byu would win, but the fans would learn that they lost 66-0.

that it is in Utah best interest for BYU to succeed, hence we should not revel in BYU's drop from national prominence in football.

I believe the opposite is true. If BYU's football program were to collapse, the reputation of the MWC may take a hit, but Utah would be poised to take advantage, and fill the void.

By way of example, BYU went 1-26 in basketball, the following year Utah went to the national championship, aided in part by the emergence of freshman Britton Johnsen. BYU used to be a perenial NCAA team, with occassional but rare appearances in the Sweet 16. BYU's collapse, as enjoyable as it was, did absolutely nothing to harm the reputation of the WAC.

: As I fired up my computer and checked the ESPN scoreboard late Saturday night, I felt a spontaneous, heartfelt welling of joy upon seeing: "Final, Virginia 45 BYU 40." Throughout Utedom a similar emotion was experienced again and again, among devout Mormon, non-Mormon, Jack Mormon, rich, middle class and poor alike--genuine elation to the soles of our feet at the descruction of BYU's hopes for a major bowl bid.

The "joy" you feel is the subtle influence of Satan. Many Utes think Satan only tempts with cash and women who wear immodest clothing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Satan knows that for him to succeed, he must first get his victim to perform an innocent-looking crime. Speaking ill of the Lord's University (or his football team) would be listed among these "minor" crimes. Think about the 13th article of faith. Note that this also applies to Booing BYU players. (discussed in detail at Ysite)

: The impulse to wish that nothing good ever happen to BYU is asirrational as it is irrestistible. Utah has an interest in the MWC and the State of Utah as a whole prospering for obviousreasons. The better the MWC looks, the better Utah will look, and the more recognition Utah will receive,if it succeeds in the MWC. A stronger MWC makes for more entertaining and competitive games, stronger MWC showings in post season play, and, in turn, more interest in the MWC (including Utah) among the most talented recruits. Indeed, for these reasons just about every one of us who took pleasure in BYU's loss to Virginia was pleased at CSU's drubbing of Colorado.

Even the most wayward heart has a spark of hope and this is where yours comes shining through. Also remember, Seattle brother, that where BYU goes, Utah will someday follow as evidenced by this board's link to the BYU honor code page. This is just another "rational" way to look at the situation.

: So what gives? Why does BYU invariably appeal to our darker, tribal impulses? BYU adherents no doubt would blame the green monster, jealousy.

Let BYU adherents work out their own salvation. You just worry about your own worthiness.

: Not at all, I say. There is nothing about BYU's culture, mission, reputation, or image that we should want Utah to emulate. Utah is THE major research institution in a vast four state region, with some world class graduate programs including a respected medical school.

I'm glad you didn't say "Harvard of the West". That name is already taken. Speaking from experience, it's probably not a good idea to talk about it much though. I think "four state region" is sufficiently vague.

: Utah is reliant upon state and federal funding, and therefore fully tolerant of diversity of thought and expression. In recent years BYU has drifted so far from the main stream as to much more closely resmble Liberty University than Notre Dame. Utah represents an important counterforce to an aspect of the state of Utah that is stigmatizing to, and at BYU redolent in a concentrated, distillate form.

Yes, there must needs be an opposition in all things. (Jacob 2) And remember too that belonging to BYU requires real maverick attitude - as you say, we've drifted off in our own direction. We're just not inclined to conform to the movement of the whole. Call us stubborn, call us trend-setters. We were just born with a "do it (my way) now" gene. They say we march to a different trumpet.

BTW, you can thank BYU's vision and dedication to traditional values for delaying the Ute's loss in the National championship by one day.

: Most of us would not trade Utah's basketball tradition, which has unfolded on a truly national stage, for BYU's football tradition which has primarily been regional in scope

I can't disagree here since ESPN's coverage of the most recent three BYU games did not reach Hamburg, Seoul and Singapore. Some blessed day, BYU football will reach the four corners of the earth.

: (BYU's only New Year's day bowl game ever was in the decrepit Cotton Bowl, against a 17th ranked team; its faux national title was a national scandal which galvanized the movement to establish a legitimate national championship game). Lavelle Edwards is clearly a fine man, but in my book Rick Majerus is vastly more
: interesting, complex, engaging, and timeless. No, we aren't jealous.

I would not be jealous of Edwards, just respectful. Do you know who the dispensational judge of Seattle will be? I'll bet my shorts it's not Majerus. (complex and engaging though he be)

: Our disdain for BYU is truly heartfelt. I think that many of us Utes, Mormon, non-Mormon, Jack Mormon, rich, poor, and middle class alike, were just born with the anti-BYU gene; after all, most of us have been the way we are for as long as we can remember. What do you think?

I think when you speak for many of us "Utes, Mormon, non-Mormon, Jack Mormon, rich, poor, and middle class alike" then ask us what we think, we are left speechless.

So I shall quote Time Magazine's future man of the century (did everyone get the email?), GBH, "though your sins be a scarlet they may become white as snow (white snow on dark royal blue that is).

P.S.

vote republican

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